August 2

Fight the good fight of faith. - 1 Timothy 6:12.

LET us view the Christian as a soldier, for so he is; and then he says, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God to engage in conflict with all my enemies.” What a stranger must he be to religion who does not feel it daily to be a warfare, who does not often exclaim, “Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be that say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.” And these adversaries of our souls are possessed of every quality that can engender terror. When we think of them, of their number, of their skill, of their malice, of their might, of their being invisible, many of them, and spiritual, (for “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places,”) surely here is enough to make the stoutest heart tremble. Yes, if we go alone into the field to engage them; but not if we say, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God.” Then

“The weakest saint shall win the day,

Though death and hell obstruct the way.”

“Fear not,” says God, “for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” What was David when he engaged with the Philistine? A shepherd lad. What was his armour? A sling and a stone. What was his dependence? “I come to thee,” said he to the monster, “in the name of the living God.” What was the result? He was “more than a conqueror!” And David’s God is ours, and we have the same assurance of security. But some are saying, “I am much below David; I am nothing better than a worm: and how am I to engage with all these enemies?” Let all such hear God, saying, “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand. Fear thou not. worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument, having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them, and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.”